MBB: Northwest Conference

bbaddict · February 14, 2009, 06:23:49 PM

Quote from: BearcatPress on February 14, 2009, 01:13:29 AM
Great performance by the Bearcats tonight - easily the best I've seen them play this year. The fact that we were able to win that convincingly despite a 3-15 night by Kyler McClary is a really, really encouraging sign.

As they say, it ain't over till it's over! I was really rooting for the Pios to take out Linfield tonight but I guess I'll have to root for GFU instead. And congrats to UPS on the conference championship! Any chance you guys could play your scrubs when you come to the Cone?

I'd say it was a great first half, and they eked out the second! Glad they got the win, but if they played like they did in the first 1/2 all the time, they'd be unstoppable! Looking forward to the rematch of L&C & Willamette tonight -- should be a good game. If the crowd stays in it, Willamette should have the edge. What's with the student section anyway? They get quiet if the Bearcats are too far ahead or too far behind. The only thing that keeps them in the game for the whole game is the knuckle biting ones! That team feeds off of crowd involvement--so cheer loudly, Bearcat fans!!

Congrats to the Loggers. So, if they DO lose in the NWC playoffs, do you suppose we'd get two teams in the dance?

LogShow · February 14, 2009, 06:34:03 PM

The logs finally brought the championship back to Tacoma, congrats guys!!! What a great season.

LogShow · February 14, 2009, 06:35:47 PM

Interesting story line tonight...UPS former coach returns for the first time on senior night. I think the loggers will win, but I am very interested to see what else happens.

bbaddict · February 14, 2009, 06:43:11 PM

Interested Logs, as in, coach tantrums, ejections & such? Do you think he'll behave on his old home court? UPS should win that one for sure.

I sure am hoping the Bruins take care of Linfield tonight! Thought the Pios would last night, but it wasn't to happen!

Bearcat Press · February 14, 2009, 09:26:21 PM

Quote from: bbaddict on February 14, 2009, 06:23:49 PM
Quote from: BearcatPress on February 14, 2009, 01:13:29 AM
Great performance by the Bearcats tonight - easily the best I've seen them play this year. The fact that we were able to win that convincingly despite a 3-15 night by Kyler McClary is a really, really encouraging sign.

As they say, it ain't over till it's over! I was really rooting for the Pios to take out Linfield tonight but I guess I'll have to root for GFU instead. And congrats to UPS on the conference championship! Any chance you guys could play your scrubs when you come to the Cone?

I'd say it was a great first half, and they eked out the second! Glad they got the win, but if they played like they did in the first 1/2 all the time, they'd be unstoppable! Looking forward to the rematch of L&C & Willamette tonight -- should be a good game. If the crowd stays in it, Willamette should have the edge. What's with the student section anyway? They get quiet if the Bearcats are too far ahead or too far behind. The only thing that keeps them in the game for the whole game is the knuckle biting ones! That team feeds off of crowd involvement--so cheer loudly, Bearcat fans!!

Congrats to the Loggers. So, if they DO lose in the NWC playoffs, do you suppose we'd get two teams in the dance?

I don't know . . . for the first time in a long time, I never felt nervous when the other team was making a run. I definitely felt like there was some confidence on the court that we hadn't seen in a while. I'm not sure what's going on with the students . . . we were really good last year, but for some reason things have slid backwards this year. I don't think the losing has helped. But if we can pull off a win tonight and win at GFU next Friday, I'd expect a big crowd for UPS next weekend.

GO BEARCATS!

logshock101 · February 15, 2009, 01:47:23 AM

loggers win in an ugly one tonight...congrats loggers on making the cover page on D3hoops. however, i would have to disagree with the write saying ups cruised to the victory. whitman was sure over matched tonight, but those guys played their butts off keeping this one interesting til the very end

nwhoops1903 · February 15, 2009, 02:10:35 AM

Quote from: logshock101 on February 15, 2009, 01:47:23 AM
loggers win in an ugly one tonight...congrats loggers on making the cover page on D3hoops. however, i would have to disagree with the write saying ups cruised to the victory. whitman was sure over matched tonight, but those guys played their butts off keeping this one interesting til the very end

Whitman led at half and had some fight in them. Whitman has definitely improved and is probably out of the bottom 3 for a long, long time.

LC's loss tonight to WU puts the Pirates in solid for the #2 seed. They would have to lose both to slide to 3 or 4. They outclassed a spiritless PLU team tonight and cruised to an easy win.

So who gets the 3-4 spots? Linfield looks like its playing good and is probably #3 in the conf. with its last 3 against the bottom 3. LC has the difficult E Wash trip and needs 1 for sure. What's with the Sunday game? WU might need to win at UPS to get in and in the process spoil a perfect season for the Loggers...fun times!!!

oldnwcer · February 15, 2009, 02:22:31 AM

NWHOOPS1903, I think that if LC sweeps next weekend on the eastern WA swing, they would end up #2 in the conference as both LC and WW would have 5 losses with LC sweeping WW. But we all know how unlikely that would be, especially with LC finishing the season without Josh Kollasch. LC needs a win or Willamette needs a loss to get LC into the playoffs. But to the victor goes a probable trip to Tacoma. Yea!

bbaddict · February 15, 2009, 02:51:51 AM

I thought L&C looked pretty good tonight, even without Kollasch. The other guys seem to be stepping up. Willamette played pretty well, but it was a close contest to the end. I really expected an OT. Wow, what a wild & wooly game!

The student section at WU tonight was pretty small. Was everyone out getting engaged or something?

It is Valentine's Day.

So, Fox almost beat Linfield it sounds like? Was anyone there? Sounded like an interesting one.

Whitman's contest with UPS almost makes it sound like "someone" could beat UPS -- this year? Probably not, but there's still some chances to try.

I don't see Whitworth dropping their games to either Whitman or L&C (at home). What IS with the Sunday afternoon game?

Pio20 · February 15, 2009, 03:31:18 AM

It's gonna be a tough finish to the season for the Pios. Anything can happen. Can someone refresh my memory as to how the new 4-team playoff will work? Will the 4 seed play at the 3 seed? The 2 seed at the 1 seed? Then the winners of those games play for the championships?

bbaddict · February 15, 2009, 03:47:23 AM

Nope, 4 seed plays at UPS (#1 seed) and 3 plays at 2, and then whatever 2 teams are left play at the highest seeded team. So, it's not a picnic to be #4 this year, for sure.

Of course, UPS could have what I like to call a "Patriot's finish" which means they lose to the #4 seed when it's most important (after winning all season).

WU is in a bad position. They not only need to win their last 2 games, they also need someone to lose some. And, even if they win, they still have to play UPS in the 1st round because I don't think they can finish better than 4th. Please correct me if I'm wrong because I'd love to be wrong on this one.

Pio20 · February 15, 2009, 04:28:57 AM

Quote from: bbaddict on February 15, 2009, 03:47:23 AM
Nope, 4 seed plays at UPS (#1 seed) and 3 plays at 2, and then whatever 2 teams are left play at the highest seeded team. So, it's not a picnic to be #4 this year, for sure.

Of course, UPS could have what I like to call a "Patriot's finish" which means they lose to the #4 seed when it's most important (after winning all season).

WU is in a bad position. They not only need to win their last 2 games, they also need someone to lose some. And, even if they win, they still have to play UPS in the 1st round because I don't think they can finish better than 4th. Please correct me if I'm wrong because I'd love to be wrong on this one.

No they could finish third if they win out and LC and Linfield lose their last two. Then LC and Willamette would be 9-7 and Linfield would fall to 8-8. Willamette would take the tie-breaker since they have beaten LC twice now. Then LC would be the four seed and play at UPS while Willamette would be the three seed and play at WW.

Pio20 · February 15, 2009, 04:45:33 AM

Quote from: bbaddict on February 14, 2009, 06:23:49 PM
Congrats to the Loggers. So, if they DO lose in the NWC playoffs, do you suppose we'd get two teams in the dance?

I think UPS has to get in at this point even if they lose in the NWC playoffs. But even if that happens and someone else wins the NWC title wouldn't it be likely that the first round NCAA game would be between the NWC champ and UPS anyway?

LogShow · February 15, 2009, 11:51:02 AM

Quote from: Pio20 on February 15, 2009, 04:45:33 AM
Quote from: bbaddict on February 14, 2009, 06:23:49 PM
Congrats to the Loggers. So, if they DO lose in the NWC playoffs, do you suppose we'd get two teams in the dance?

I think UPS has to get in at this point even if they lose in the NWC playoffs. But even if that happens and someone else wins the NWC title wouldn't it be likely that the first round NCAA game would be between the NWC champ and UPS anyway?

Just to be safe, I think UPS needs to win both games next weekend to be a sure shot pool C bid. You are right they probably have it sealed up already. Sorry to nitpick Pio, but UPS is the NWC champ...with the tournament champ still TBD. If the Logs drop a game in the NWC tourney, allowing two NWC teams to get in the dance (in a long time) this is how I think it will play out. Its a fact that the NWC teams wouldn't be able to avoid each other. So assuming that the SCIAC only gets one team in, I think that the NCAA will make it a 3 team pod of the 2 NWC teams and the SCIAC team. UPS would get the bye and then play the winner of the Thursday game on Saturday. The only question is would the other NWC team get to host the first game, or should it just be played at UPS since the Saturday game will be played there.

I do hope that if there is two NWC teams they get stuck in different pods, but I just don't seeing that happening. The other thing I am almost willing to bet in is that UPS will be seeing UW-Stevens Point in the NCAA. It would only fit for the selection commitee to match them up again in the sweet 16. But I sure hope I am wrong.

bbaddict · February 15, 2009, 01:24:01 PM

Quote from: Pio20 on February 15, 2009, 04:28:57 AM
Quote from: bbaddict on February 15, 2009, 03:47:23 AM
Nope, 4 seed plays at UPS (#1 seed) and 3 plays at 2, and then whatever 2 teams are left play at the highest seeded team. So, it's not a picnic to be #4 this year, for sure.

Of course, UPS could have what I like to call a "Patriot's finish" which means they lose to the #4 seed when it's most important (after winning all season).

WU is in a bad position. They not only need to win their last 2 games, they also need someone to lose some. And, even if they win, they still have to play UPS in the 1st round because I don't think they can finish better than 4th. Please correct me if I'm wrong because I'd love to be wrong on this one.

No they could finish third if they win out and LC and Linfield lose their last two. Then LC and Willamette would be 9-7 and Linfield would fall to 8-8. Willamette would take the tie-breaker since they have beaten LC twice now. Then LC would be the four seed and play at UPS while Willamette would be the three seed and play at WW.

See Pio -- this is why we keep you around. So, it's that tricky time of year when you're not only hoping your team will win, but that specific other teams will lose!!